Typewriter ribbon carrier



y 1950 E. H. DREHER 2,509,862

TYPEWRITER RIBBON CARRIER Filed Nov. 12, 1947 INVENTOR.

ELMER H. DREHER ATTORNEY.

Patented May 30, 1950 TYPEWRITER RIBBON CARRIER @Elmer H. Dreher, East Norwalk, 001111., assignor to Remington Rand Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application November 12, 1947, Serial No. 785,352

12 Claims.

1 The present inventionrelates to new and useful improvements in ribbon-carriers of the vibrated type foruse upon typewriters and like certain definite disadvantages from an operator's viewpoint. For instance, typewriter ribbons must be replaced at frequent intervals, and changing these inked ribbons has always been an undesirable task which usually, results in soiled fingers for the operator, owing to the manipulation required during removing or inserting a ribbon in the guide slots or eyes of conventional ribboncarriers.

,Many prior attempts have been made to improve the construction ofribbon-carriers so that insertion or removal of the ribbon is facilitated. Most of these prior devices show ribbon-carriers having a pair-of arms forming an eye on each side of the printing point, with'one, arm of each eye rigid or stationary and the other movable for the purpose of inserting the ribbon into the eyesor removing it therefrom. However, all of such prior devices, .to .the best of my knowledge, have the movable arms located to the outside of the stationary arms, whereas, in the present invention, themovable armsare between the stationary arms for reasons later explained.

This invention comprehends the provision of an improved ribbon-carrier having eyes which can be quickly andconveniently opened by one hand for ribbon-insertion or removal; and one wherein the eyes can be automatically closed in unison by depression of any printing key of the typewriter without necessitating any changes or alterations in the construction of the typewriter.

Other objectsand advantages of the invention are to provide an improved ribbon-carrier of the-above character which is of simple and practical construction, which is highly efficient and reliable in operation, and which can be easily and quicklyinstalled upon conventional typewriters.

The invention will be most readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in

clearn ess;

piece 2! and an angularly disposed bar 22.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation-of the ribbon-carrier. showing the movable arms which form part of the eyes of the carrier, in closed or ribbon-retaining position;

Fig. 3 is a plan viewof Fig. 2;

Fig. 41's a horizontal sectional view along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 'lookingin the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of Fig. 2 with the ribbon portion omitted; and

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation similar to Fig. 5, but showing the movable arms in open position for ribbon-threading or removal.

Describing by reference numerals the: various parts shown herein, l0 indicates generally a ribbon-carrier of the well-known Remington typewriter which has been redesigned in accordance with the present invention. The lower end of carrier i0 is suitably arranged for pivotal connection with the usual vibrating lever ll so that in use the ribbon I2 is vibrated or shifted vertically to cover and uncover the printing zone, as the keys of the typewriter are operated, in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, the upper end of ribbon-carrier I0 is bifurcated to form offset. integral rigid or stationary, arms l4i4. These arms are angularly disposed relative to each other, and to the stem I3 of carrier l0, and are sufficiently spaced apart to permit the type to-pass therebetweeninthe customary manner. The horizontal portion l5, adjacent the lower end of each rigid arm I4, serves to support the lower edge of ribbon l2. Ribbon-carrier Ill is suitably mounted for vertical sliding movement upon the type guide or anvil l6 and lateral movement of the carrier is prevented by ears I! embracing the vertical edges 20 respectively of said guidein the conventional manner.

In accordance with the present improvement, a pair of movable arms I8 are pivoted at I9 just below the horizontal portions l5 respectively of carrier 10, as clearly indicated in Figs. 2 and 6. The free end of each movable arm I8 is provided with a forwardly and outwardly bentfinger The outer end of each bar 22 normally engages the off-set tip 23 of its associated rigid arm H to prevent ribbon I2 from riding up and out of the eyes E (Fig. 5) defined by the arms l4l18, horizontal portions l5 and bars 22 respectively.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5, movable :arms l8 are normally held in their closed position by a detent spring 24, the central part of which is rigidly supported by an oi'f-set'ear 25, punched from the stem l3 of carrier I0. It will be noted from Figs. 3 and 6, that each movable arm l8 has a forwardly bent stop lug 26 and an oil-set ear 21. The off-set portion 28, of each ear 21, rides upon the straight sections 29 of spring 2Q when holding the movable arms 18 in closed position. However, when the arms [8 are swung on their pivots I9 by manually pinching together the finger pieces 2|, oif-set portions 28 are positioned to snap into depressions 30 formed in the ends of said spring to hold arms l8 in open or ribbon-threading position, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6. From the foregoing description it will now be apparent that spring 24 is capable of releasably detenting or holding the arms E8 in either open or closed position.

Referring now to Fig. 1, reference numeral 3| indicates a fragment of the usual type basket or segment of a Remington typewriter, to which the type guide or anvil I6 is securely attached by means of screws 32. With the parts constructed and arranged as described, and assuming that ribbon i2 is to be removed from the eyes E of carrier it, an operator proceeds as follows: First, the conventional shift key lock lever (not shown) is preferably depressed to shift the type segment 3| to its lowered position, or the position it occupies when upper case characters are printed. This in turn carries the type guide It downwardly to its lowered position, and its guiding lugs 33 are carried downwardly and away from the finger pieces 2!. With lugs 33 in this position, an operator can conveniently grasp finger pieces 2|, and by pinching them together, rock the arms 18 to their open or ribbon-threading positions shown in Figs. 1 and 6. This inward rocking movement of arms 88, upon their pivots l separates the bars 22 from the off-set tips 23 of rigid arms M, to efiectively open or uncover the top end of eyes E. After arms l8 have been moved to open position, and held open by spring 24 in the manner previously described, ribbon 12 can be readily inserted within or withdraw from eyes E.

Let it be assumed now that movable arms 43 have been manually rocked to open ribbon-inserting or removing position, as above described and clearly illustrated in Fig. 6, and that :a ribbon i2 has been dropped into the open eyes E. Automatic closing of the movable arms may now be effected by depressing any printing key of the typewriter. As an example, suppose the A key is the printing key depressed. In so doing, block or heel portion 34, of the A type 35, will strike the finger pieces 2! during its travel to the printing point with sufiicient force to dislodge the offset portions 28 from depressions 35 thus permitting the tension of spring 24 to rock the movable arms 48 to their closed position shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The shape, size and location 01": the finger pieces are designed so that all type bar blocks 34 will strike them during a printing excursion, regardless of the position to which the type basket 3! may be shifted.

It will now be obvious that the task of threading an inked ribbon through the eyes of a typewriter ribbon-carrier has been simplified and reduced to a single operation upon the part of the operator, namely, pinching together the finger pieces 2| to open the eyes E, since closing of the eyes is automatically accomplished upon depression of the very first printing key struck.

It may now be pointed out that with a ribboncarrier structure as above described, failure upon the part of an operator to close the eyes be- 4 fore typing is virtually impossible and that accidental displacement of the ribbon is avoided should such an oversight occur.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the typewriter art that numerous variations and modifications may be made in the particular construction without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. It is therefore desired, by the following claims, to include within the scope of the invention, all such variations and modifications whereby substantially the results of the invention may be obtained by the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a typewriting machine, a ribbon carrier comprising, a pair of stationary arms; a pair of movable arms cooperating with said stationary arms to form guiding eyes for a ribbon; and means through which the movable arms can be manually displaced during ribbon-insertion or removal and automatically returned to ribbonretaining position upon depression of any printing key of the typewriter.

2. In a typewriting machine, a ribbon carrier comprising the combination of, a pair of stationary arms; a pair of movable arms located between said stationary arms and cooperating therewith to form guiding eyes for a ribbon; and

rojections on the movable arms through which the latter can be manually displaced during ribbon-insertion or removal and automatically returned to ribbon-retaining position through depression by any printing key of the typewriter.

3. In a typewriting machine, a ribbon carrier therefor comprising the combination of, a pair of stationary arms located on opposite sides of the printing point; a pair of movable arms 00- operating with said stationary arms to form guiding eyes for a ribbon; and projections on the movable arms through which the latter can be manually displaced to facilitate ribbon-insertion or removal and automatically returned to a ribbon-retaining position upon depression of any printing key of the typewriter.

4. In a typewriting machine having a ribboncarrier comprising a stem bifurcated to form a pair of stationary arms located on opposite sides of the printing point; a pair of movable arms located between said station arms and cooperating with the latter to form guiding eyes for a ribbon; means adapted to normally hold said movable arms in contact with said stationary arms; and projections formed upon each movable arm whereby manual displacement of said movable arms toward one another can be accomplished for ribbon-insertion or removal, and whereby, said movable arms are automatically returned to normal ribbon-retaining position by depression of any printing key of the typewriter through its associated type bar block striking said projections.

5. In a typewriting machine having a ribboncarrier of the class described comprising, in combination, a pair of off-set stationary arms located on opposite sides of the printing point; a pair of movable arms pivoted between said stationary arms and cooperating therewith to form guiding eyes for an inked ribbon; spring means adapted to normally hold the movable arms in contact with said stationary arms; a finger piece for each movable arm to enable an operator to simultaneously displace said movable arms toward one another and out of contact with said stationary arms during ribbon-insertion or removal; and means adapted to contact said finger pieces to automatically insure return of said movable arms, to ribbon-retaining position, through depression of any printing key of the typewriter, said means comprising the type bar block of the type bar associated with the printing key depressed.

6. In a typewriting machine having a ribboncarrier including a pair of rigid arms and. a pair of movable arms cooperating to form guiding eyes for the ribbon; the combination comprising a spring for detenting the movable arms in either ribbon-threading or removal position, or ribbonretaining position; means for each movable arm to facilitate manual displacement of the movable arms to ribbon-threading or removal position; and separate means cooperable with said last named means to automatically return said movable arms to ribbon-retaining position upon depression of any printing key of the typewriter.

7. In a typewriting machine having a ribboncarrier including a pair of rigid arms and a pair of movable arms which together form guiding eyes for a ribbon; the combination which comprises a spring to oppose displacement of the movable arms to either ribbon-threading or removal position, or to ribbon-retaining position; a finger piece for each movable arm to facilitate manual displacement of the movable arms toward one another to ribbon-threading or removal position and means cooperable with said finger pieces to automatically return said movable arms to ribbon-retaining position upon depression of any printing key of the typewriter.

8. In a typewriting machine having a ribboncarrier or the class described which includes a pair of stationary arms and a pair of movable arms which together form guiding eyes for a ribbon; the combination comprising a spring to oppose displacement of the movable arms to either ribbon-threading or removal position, or to ribbon-retaining position; a finger piece for each movable arm to facilitate manual displacement of the movable arms toward one another to ribbun-threading or removal position; and means cooperable with said finger pieces to automatically return said movable arms to ribbon-retaining position upon depression of any printing key of the typewriter, said last named means comprising the type bar block of the type bar associated with the printing key depressed.

9. In a typewriting machine the combination of a ribbon-carrier having a pair of rigid arms, one at each side of the printing point; a pair of movable arms located between and associated with said rigid arms to form guiding eyes for a ribbon; a spring adapted to detent the movable arms in either ribbon-retaining or ribbon-removal position; and a finger piece for each movable arm to facilitate manual displacement of the movable arms toward each other and to a ribbun-threading or removal position.

10. In a typewriting machine the combination of a ribbon-carrier having a stem bifurcated to form a pair of rigid arms one at each side of the printing point; a pair of movable arms pivoted in conjunction with said rigid arms to form guiding eyes for a ribbon; a spring adapted to hold the movable arms in either open ribbon-threading position or closed ribbon-retaining position; and a finger piece for each movable arm capable of being grasped by one hand to rock the movable arms toward one another to open ribbon-threading position, and rocked to ribbon-retaining position by the type bar block of the type bar associated with any depressed printing key of the typewriter.

11. In a typewriting machine the combination of a ribbon-carrier having a stem bifurcated to form a pair of angularly disposed rigid arms; a pair of movable arms pivotally associated with said rigid arms to form guiding eyes for a ribbon; a spring supported intermediate its ends by said stem and adapted to retain the movable arms in either open ribbon-threading position or closed ribbon-retaining position; and outwardly projecting finger pieces on the movable arms capable of being manually pinched together to rock the movable arms to ribbon-threading position, and of being struck by any type bar block upon depression of its associated printing key of the typewriter to automatically return said movable arms to their normal ribbon-retaining position.

12. In a typewriting machine the combination of a ribbon-carrier having a stem bifurcated to form a pair of rigid arms, one at each side of the printing point; a pair of movable arms pivoted relative to said rigid arms to form guiding eyes for a ribbon; a spring adapted to normally hold the movable arms in closed position relative to said rigid arms; a forwardly and outwardly bent finger piece integrally formed with the free end of each movable arm to facilitate manual rocking of the movable arms upon their pivots, against the tension of said spring, to an open or ribbonthreading position; and stops on said movable arms adapted to limit movement of the movable arms toward each other, said finger pieces being positioned to be struck by any type bar block upon depression of its associated printing key of the typewriter to automatically return said movable arms to ribbon-retaining position.

ELMER H. DREHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

